Malanka ended his nearly three-year run in charge of the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team at a ceremony at Camp Roberts, in the central coast north of Paso Robles.

The brigade headquartered in San Diego includes more than 4,800 soldiers from throughout the state. About 75 of them are currently deployed to Afghanistan in what is expected to be the California National Guard’s last major deployment of the war.

Smiley has been serving in the Sacramento area on staff with the California National Guard as director for plans, operations and security. Malanka, a maintenance manager for the regional sewer district in Monterey, is transferring to the guard’s 40th Infantry Division, where he will be assistant commander for maneuver.